St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
THE USE OF 1T.

SItaTVeu lot the sttClOn anu i Hiu uutii
he was off, | was so 'fraid he might
leave me something extra to do. But
Pm free for all day, so come on, |
say !"
"Can't Ben"
"Why not 7"
al must ride Black Harry around
racing then Pm to ride him along the
road as far as the post Office"
"Well, if you must you must" said
Ben, "but Pm sorry for a Teller who
can't have his freedom such a glory
fine day as this. By the way, Joe, did
tell you fathers going to buy me a
bicycle 7"
"You don't say!"
ayes, true as guns Can you go to-
morrow morning to the woods if it's
pleasant 7"
"No; got to saw wood"
"Well, l declare! What's the use
of fellows having to hammer away
at something in the way of work all
the timef Vacation to !"
81 can do whatever / like all the
long afternoons" said Joe little dis
consolately; "but father thinks boys
ought to learn to do all sorts of useful
things"
"But what's the use 2" asked Ben.
al suppose father knows and he
says / will one of these days if l live.
But aren't you the lucky boy to have a
bicycle ~
A whoop interrupted them and two
or three other boys appeared from
around the corner; bright-eyed, &C
tive-limbed and fairly dancing with
fun and merriment were the new-com-
lively boy fashion:
"COme on, TOodlewigs! Hop around
there, BOuncer We're off for berry
picking, and our noon meal in the cool
shadow of the berry bushes, where we
shall dig hole and roast some Eaters,
pop some corn, and have nice little
racket all to ourselves"
"JOe can't co." said Ben "he's got
to ride his majesty, the young Black
Harry, round the lot till he's all tagged
out, then take him to the post Office
for the mail.n
Joe laughed, but told the boys why
he must remain on the place for at
least two mornings.
"Well, it's too bad" said the merry
boys, "but we must be off or the rob-
ms will get the berries before we ar
rive. Day, day, Joe, boy, nice ride
to you"
Black Harry was a spleRdid young
horse raised on the place; somewhat
strong headed, feet, but yet trust
worthy if judiciOusly handled, else Dr.'
Benner had hardly given orders to his
only son, fOurteen-year- Joe, to
ride him around the lot until he was
tired. The boy had been trained to
the saddle from child. He had also
been carefully instructed as to the use
of axe and saw, and many other tools
also how to load and discharge gun,
to row, and manage sail boat and
the boy was capital swimmer.
DR.. Benner was sometimes called an
eccentric man, and so perhaps he was
but those who knew the Doctor best
considered him more sagaciOus than
peculiar.
Joe's mother had died during his
babyhOOd, and the Doctor realized as
he once expressed it, that the boy
would most likely be whatever by
Gods blessing he chose to make him,
which he hoped ultimately would be a
whole man so he had set conscien-
tiously to work for that result.
"Well done" said the Doctor to
himself, as pausing on his long round
of calls he stopped for a moment at
the wide pasture and peeped through
the bushes.
"Well done the boy manages his
charger well and no mistake !"
Black Harry was literally tearing
with leaps and bounds from one part
of the pasture to the other occasion
ally little stump would threaten to
impede his progress, but with frOlic-
some plunge he would leave it far be-
hind, while the sturdy young rider
who sat the animal with perfect ease
would, now and then draw a tighter
rein or speak a word of command,
when the bounding creature would
obey at once as if in complete sympa-
thy with his masters wishes.
At length, after a long season of
headlong speed, Black Harry put on
arched his long neck, and stepping
high and daintily like puss herself, at
a signal from Joe, he easily leaped the
low strip fence and pranced along the
road in the direction of the post Office.
Joe received the mail, and soon after
stood watching his father in the study
as he began examining his letters.
One missive proved to be circular
and as DR.. Benner opened it, there ap
peared before JOe's longing eyes pic
lures of bicycles of the most attractive
form and style, the slender wheels
seeming almost to roll and move. Joe
spoke:
"Oh, father, how do wish 1 could
have bicycle !"
"Well, why don't you have one, my
son 2"
care you really willing l should 2"
asked Joe delightedly.
Certainly, my boy"
"And when may l get it 2"
"Just as soon as you can earn it,"
Joe's countenance fell. 1t had been
a comparatively easy thing earning his
money-for the Fourth of July which
was close at hand, as SO many farmers
had been glad of extra help during the
early haying but to earn the sum re-
CURED to purchase first class bicycle
really that was too bad of his father.
"Ben Lows father is going to give
him BICYCLE" said Joe experiment
ally. 81 think he's wonderfully lucky
fellow"
eyes, | should think he was," said
the Doctor without looking up from
his reading.
"And Ben has all day to himself to
spend as he likes" added Joe.
"When Ben gets his bicycle, you let
me know how many hands high it is,
will you Z" said the Doctor dreamily.
ayes, indeed L will ~ Joe answered 1
"And his father gives him no tasks,
eh ?"
"Welp Joe Decentralization did {
say he hid until his father left the t
house this morning for fear he might I